Marina Lecomte shares how ESCP’s international partnerships support learning, cultural exchange and responsible leadership across regions.
With six campuses across Europe, ESCP is international by design. Its partnership network extends this international dimension into other regions, adding exchange, research and institutional reach across 50 countries. These collaborations facilitate learning across cultures, exchanging expertise and building relationships grounded in trust, quality and mutual benefit.
For Marina Lecomte, Director of International Relations & Partnerships, the value of a partnership lies in what it makes possible over time. “What matters is not just having a partner,” she says, “but building a relationship that creates real value for the School, for students and for the institution on the other side.”
We spoke to Lecomte about what makes a meaningful partnership, how ESCP decides where to deepen its network and how those relationships are evolving in response to changing student demand and geopolitical shifts.
A global network with real academic value
ESCP has developed international student exchange partnerships with more than 150 carefully selected business schools in 50 countries. These alliances support exchange semesters and dual degrees across ESCP’s programmes.
The emphasis, she explains, is on quality rather than quantity. “We don’t want hundreds of partners,” says Lecomte. “We want to work with the best ones.” ESCP looks for partnerships with highly regarded institutions that can offer a strong academic fit and genuine value for students and faculty.
These collaborations also support the School’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by creating more opportunities for exchange, broadening perspectives and connecting students and faculty with different academic cultures and global centres of excellence.
Historically, ESCP has had particularly strong links with Latin America through student exchange. Argentina is one of the most popular destinations for students, reflecting the strength and visibility of the School’s partnerships in the region. Research collaborations matter too. CERALE, ESCP’s Centre d’études et de recherche Amérique latine Europe, brings together European and Latin American experts on management issues, with Florence Pinot de Villechenon Scientific Director of CERALE and Emeritus Associate Professor at ESCP Business School leading the centre’s work.
We don’t want hundreds of partners, we want to work with the best ones.
What students gain
For students, these partnerships open doors.
Marina says students are drawn to them for several reasons. Reputation matters. The strongest institutions attract the strongest interest. Destination matters too. Some places appeal because they are academically prestigious, while others attract students because they offer a distinctive cultural or personal experience. Often, it is the combination of both that makes a destination compelling.
A semester abroad is not only a change of location. It is exposure to different ways of teaching, different business environments and different ideas of leadership. In that sense, international partnerships are central to the ESCP model.
Even when students do not take up an exchange place, the existence of these opportunities matters. “It’s important for them to know that there are all these partnerships,” Lecomte says. It signals international reach, choice and ambition. It also reinforces the idea that global experience is part of the School’s identity.
Evolving demand and geopolitical shifts
Student demand is constantly evolving. The United States remains a strong destination, with partnerships with some of the leading institutions. At the same time, some countries have seen fluctuating demand, showing how student choices are shaped not only by academic reputation but also by the broader global context.
Lecomte describes how preferences evolve in line with wider geopolitical and cultural shifts. “China is really becoming much more popular,” she says, noting that application numbers have risen sharply in recent years. Among recent initiatives, ESCP recently launched the ESCP-CEIBS Global Master in Management dual degree programme, deepening its partnership with China Europe International Business School.
ESCP has also developed new partnerships in Indonesia and Malaysia, reflecting both strategic ambition and changing student interest. These additions sit alongside established links across Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America.
That responsiveness matters. In a changing world, partnerships need to evolve with student expectations and with the realities of global higher education. For ESCP, that means continuing to build a network that is both prestigious and adaptable.
A broader presence, and a broader conversation
International partnerships do more than support exchange. They also strengthen ESCP’s visibility in other regions and help the School build recognition among leading institutions worldwide.
As part of the Bold & United strategy, ESCP is committed to strengthening its international reach, attracting talent from around the world and deepening ties with leading institutions beyond Europe, with plans to establish 60 double-degree partnerships by 2030. Diversity and inclusion sit at the heart of that ambition, guiding the School’s approach.
Looking ahead, ESCP will continue to deepen its partnerships with leading schools while also widening the network where it sees room to grow. “We also need to look for new partnerships in Africa,” Lecomte shares. “We need to reinforce our presence in the countries where we are not represented.” For ESCP, that next phase is about expanding intelligently: building on strong foundations, opening new academic bridges and ensuring the School remains visible in the regions that matter most for its future.
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